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Pippa grinned "I love your hed and then rose from the couch "Not to be rude, Ash, but I need to do this before I end up losing et it over with so I don’t have to live with unnecessary stress"

"Get your coat, then We’ll ride together over to Cam’s office and then I’ll have the driver takewith ain "I seeer"

"Okay, let’s do this," Pippa said as she went for her coat

Ca out his officeThere was a h soon the teh that it would turn entirely to snow His nored work even though he’d been a steady presence in the office He sat in on s with Devon and their other two business partners and friends, Rafael de Luca and Ryan Beardsley Their newest hotel, the flagship resort for the newly for along at a rapid pace Things were on the upswing He should be on top of the world

But the past weeks had been the worst sort of hell as he tortured hiht that she wasn’t taking care of herself, that souilt and anxiety had taken over his every waking moment and his dreams, as well And he only had hiiven in to such temptation He damn sure should have been more careful with the birth control He should have just left Pippa the hell alone

Then he wouldn’t be sitting here feeling gutted orry over losing so precious for the second time in his life

The fact that he hadn’t heard fronant, he would have heard She’d pro about her had led hi nothing, the crazier he got

It had becoether for him to reach into his desk drawer--the only one he locked--and pull out a s picture frame

It contained two photos One of Elise and one of Colton

He stood staring at the face Colton was merely a day old in his picture Tiny Wrinkled Still red and he had a misshapen cone head, but Caht in his life

All these years later, just looking at the two people he’d loved and lost had the power to stop hiain He couldn’t bear it He didn’t want to set hiony He’d never wished for anything as hard as he wished for Pippa not to be pregnant

With each day that passed without hi from her, some of his tension eased He could breathe a little easier

She wasn’t pregnant He had to believe that

His secretary buzzed hisworth, there is a young woman here to see you She doesn’t have an appointet her name?" Cam asked impatiently

His secretary put him on hold to inquire Why the hell hadn’t she asked already? He was about to tell her he wasn’t to be disturbed when she caree to see her"

There was a disdainful sniff in Mrs Milton’s voice that told Caet rid of Pippa

"She would be right Send her in at once"

Caaze on the door Aat the threshold as she searched the roo her every nuance, searching for a sign that she was in soht fists but he kept thee he was His instinct was to go to her He wanted to haul her into his arht But he’d learned long ago that nobody could make those pro it through this encounter

"Pippa," he greeted "Sit down Please Would you like so to drink?"

As she drew closer, he could see the paleness of her features The shadows under her eyes She even looked as though she’d lost weight With sudden guilt, he realized the past weeks had been far more stressful for her than they had been for hi iht away"

The knot grew larger in his stomach and he sed hard so his voice wouldn’t crack

"Not at all I’ed at the obliviousness in his tone No one was that stupid Denial didn’t o away Dread mounted with every breath until he wanted to just yell at her to say what it was she wanted to say

"I’ inside hihed down on him like the heaviest of burdens Grief welled deep in his chest and he stood there, motionless, because if he so ht there in front of her

Finallyto find his voice and his composure, he asked, "Are you certain?" But he knew she was There was no denying the truth in her eyes If only he could go back

She nodded grimly, then hesitated "As certain as I can be without a doctor’s confirstore test They’re supposed to be ninety-nine percent accurate, or so like that"

He cleared his throat "I’ht We kneas a distinct possibility"

She stood there, her hands shoved into her coat, her uneasiness obvious

"Are you all right? Have you been well?"

He hated the distance in his voice even as he embraced it, wanted it He didn’t want the intimacy that two people who’d created a child should have and enjoy He hated that she’d already adamantly turned down his offer--or rather, his demand--that she move in with him Not that he could blame her He was certain he ca her away, then yanking her back

But as badly as he didn’t want to allow himself any sort of closeness with her, he had to be certain she was provided for That she had everything she needed, the best medical care, e happen to her…their…his child Never again

Maybe it was the coldness of the arrangeed even as he thought it, but e? Maybe it was the best solution A practical solution She’d certainly benefit and he’d get what he most wanted Peace of mind